Florida senator Marco Rubio has issued a press release opposing UN recognition of Palestine. He has also announced that he is co-sponsoring an amendment that would prohibit US taxpayer dollars from funding the U.N. if they proceed with recognizing Palestinine as a non-member state.

Here is the text of Rubio’s statement:
“I oppose this unilateral move by the government of president Abbas and regret its reckless endorsement by the United Nations. True peace and international recognition of a Palestinian state can only be achieved through direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. The Palestinian people would be much better served if the Palestinian Authority were to spend its energies in responding to several Israeli calls for direct negotiations. As the Senate debates the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), I am proud to be a co-sponsor of an amendment to prohibit U.S. taxpayer funding for the United Nations in the event the organization upgrades Palestine’s status from permanent observer ‘entity’ before a comprehensive peace agreement has been reached with Israel. The Senate should swiftly adopt it.”